The Fostorian

09/29/2025

🎉 The Fostorian — Issue 10 is live!
📅 Sept 28 – Oct 5, 2025 • Fostoria & Tri-County (Seneca • Hancock • Wood)

Read the full issue ➜ https://docs.google.com/document/d/1_75cmis2bBfchHSmPlxsbmznAOosPBc9QGy4_kTrdxc/edit?usp=sharing

Inside this issue:
• 🏛️ Council & Local Government: 9/16 recap — PFAS legal repr. adopted; tax rates/levies approved; SRO contract 1st reading; gas aggregation 2nd reading; next council Oct 7.
• 🌳 City Park refresh: Green Team Days + new concrete co****le boards; rubber surfacing coming.
• 🎃 Halloween Parade: Entries open for Oct 26 @ 5 PM (Main St). Nonprofits FREE; others $25.
• 🗓️ Community Calendar: Rosary Rally (Oct 1), Hops & Vines (Oct 3), Silent Movie Night (Oct 4), markets & trick-or-treat dates across Fostoria, Tiffin, Findlay & BG.
• 🪵 Local History: Frontier September foods & recipes — apple butter, corn dodgers, harvest stew & more.
• 🎨 Arts & Culture: Apple heritage in Ohio art — where to see it now (CMA, Taft, TMA, Zanesville, TAG).
• 🔧 Tech & Innovation: Ohio’s microchip momentum—Intel, workforce training, and the “Silicon Heartland.”
• 🍎 Health & Home: Weekly wellness forecast (Sept 29–Oct 5) + seasonal tips to reset routines.
• 🗽 State News: Free speech & campus safety, farm economics, Cleveland records clash, school funding, redistricting, & more.
• ✝️ Catholic Corner: Bishop Thomas on meeting St. Teresa of Calcutta, St. Vincent de Paul, and a simple daily prayer.

Issue: 10 - September 28, 2025 - October 5, 2025 Produced by Elliott Shaffer SECTION 1 — COUNCIL & LOCAL GOVERNMENT 🏛️ City Council Recap — September 16, 2025 🕕 6:00 – 6:52 PM | Council Chambers Council convened with the Pledge of Allegiance and moment of silence. Roll call: Layman, Po...

09/22/2025

🎉 The Fostorian — Issue 9 is live!
(Sept 21–28, 2025 • Fostoria, Ohio)

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1FThhq8qEWKKWoV18ITc3W1pEmYr_ghe110D7sWCQchc/edit?usp=drivesdk

• City Park refresh (Fostoria, OH) — new concrete co****le boards; rubber surfacing coming 🌳
• Halloween Parade (Fostoria, OH) — entries open now for Sun, Oct 26 @ 5pm (nonprofits free; others $25) 🎃
• Council recap (Fostoria, OH • 9/16) — PFAS ordinance adopted; tax rates/levies approved; finance & public affairs updates 🏛️
• Events: Rail Festival (Fostoria, OH), Sparkle Stroll 5K (Fostoria, OH), Silent Movie Night (Fostoria, OH), plus markets & trick-or-treat dates across Tiffin, Ohio; Findlay, Ohio; Bowling Green, Ohio 📅
• History & Heritage: Ohio’s apple legacy—from Johnny Appleseed to today’s orchards 🍎
• Tech for everyone: simple digital skills for seniors + Ohio tech news ⚙️
• Health & Home: 7-day wellness forecast for Fostoria, Ohio 🏠
• State News (Ohio): Free speech on campus, farm costs & tariffs, and the redistricting deadline 📰
• Catholic Corner: Bishop Daniel Thomas (Toledo, Ohio) on hope at the Cross ✝️

Issue: 9 - September 21, 2025 - September 28, 2025 Produced by Elliott Shaffer SECTION 1 — COUNCIL & LOCAL GOVERNMENT City Hall updates Green Team Days at City Park 🌳 In late August, city employees launched the first “Green Team Days”, where multiple departments worked together to refresh ....

09/15/2025

✨ The Fostorian – Issue 8 is here! ✨
📅 Week of September 14–21, 2025
Produced by Elliott Shaffer

👉 Read the full issue here:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1NxN7t1kBIC_jjlEZgvD8_U9ulO6Kh3uyXZP3ciSOfOM/edit?usp=sharing

This week’s edition covers:
🏛️ Council & Local Government – Officer Demetreus Bell sworn in, inclusive playground update, 9/11 remembrance, tree inventory progress, and EPA partnership to replace lead pipes.
🎉 Community Calendar – Fostoria Farmers’ Market, Tiffin-Seneca Heritage Festival, Hispanic Heritage Celebration in Findlay, Bowling Green concerts, and statewide fall festivals.
🚂 Local History & Heritage – Fostoria’s rail legacy today: nearly 100 trains daily through the “Iron Triangle.”
🎨 Arts & Culture – Symphony, comedy, theater, and hands-on art workshops across the tri-county region.
💻 Tech & Innovation – What you need to know about AI, IoT, and cybersecurity in 2025.
🌱 Health & Wellness – Exploring natural & medical approaches to heavy metal detox.
🍎 Elevate – September harvest traditions, monarch migration, equinox reflections, and timeless wisdom.
✝️ The Catholic Corner – Weekly scripture, reflections, and Bishop’s Corner highlights.

📰 The Fostorian – Local stories. Local voices. Tri-County strong.

09/08/2025

📖 Read it all inside this week’s Fostorian!
https://docs.google.com/document/d/12uzhNWMIyveKwY7s-2DCku2WjXhgsJowL7sCLYG8yVY/edit?usp=drivesdk

📰 The Fostorian – Issue 7 (Sept. 7–14, 2025)
This week’s edition covers:
🏛 Fostoria Council updates — airport lease approved, PFAS legal action, tree survey progress, and water bill concerns.
📅 Community calendar — 9/11 Memorial, Fall Festival, Oktoberfest, and the 15th Annual Run the Res 5K.
🚲 Local history — Fostoria’s cycling clubs and racing tradition, from high-wheelers to today’s 5K.
🎨 Arts & Culture — Black Swamp Arts Festival winners + regional arts highlights.
💻 Tech & Innovation — smarter screenshots, BGSU’s AI program, and Ohio Tech Day countdown.
🌿 Health & Environment — PFAS testing, West Nile virus, and Lake Erie bloom alerts.
🏛 State News — U.S. takes a stake in Intel; lawmakers tackle Ohio’s housing shortage.

Issue: September 7 – August 14, 2025 Produced by Elliott Shaffer SECTION 1 – COUNCIL AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT Fostoria City Council Meeting Minutes Date: Tuesday, September 2, 2025 Time: 6:00 p.m. Location: Council Chambers, Municipal Building Opening Council President Brian Shaver called th...

09/01/2025

🇺🇸 Happy Labor Day from The Fostorian 🇺🇸

This week we’re taking a short break — no paper will be published as our team spends time with family, friends, and our community.

Labor Day is a time to honor the hard work, dedication, and spirit of those who built and continue to build our towns, farms, factories, and neighborhoods here in Fostoria and across the Tri-County. 💪🌾🏭

We’ll be back next week with more stories of local government, history, events, and the people who make our community strong.

Wishing everyone a safe and joyful holiday — take a moment to rest, enjoy the sunshine, and celebrate the work we all share in building a better tomorrow.

— The Fostorian

08/25/2025

📰 The Fostorian – Issue 6 is here!
August 24 – August 31, 2025

👉 Read the full issue here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1KmBWeSKeqTgrFouG_Eph_sbV8Ps-732mQV2kyBAt5JE/edit?usp=sharing

This week’s edition is packed with local updates, history, and opportunities across Fostoria and the Tri-County:

✨ Council & Government – Full coverage of the August 19 City Council meeting: road projects, $1.1M forestry grant, PFAS updates, Columbia Gas project, and more.
🎶 Community Calendar – Concerts in Foundation Park & Riverside, Tiffin Farmers Market, Findlay art exhibits, and a preview of Bowling Green’s Black Swamp Arts Festival.
📜 Local History – Big Spring & the Cat People of Ohio: the Erie Nation’s story, the sacred waters near Carey, and how our rivers still carry their memory.
🎨 Arts & Culture – Fall festivals, Tiffin Art Guild shows, Findlay performances, and October workshops already on the horizon.
💻 Technology & Innovation – Ohio VC Fest, AI adoption in small business, STEM hiring incentives, and TechSummit 2025.
🌱 Health, Wellness & Environment – PFAS water testing, mosquito & tick alerts, and Lake Erie’s late-summer algae blooms.
🏛️ State News – $12.7M in road safety projects, infant health investments, new visitor centers, and an overview of bills moving through the Ohio Legislature.
🦅 Elevate – August gardening tips, timeless wisdom from global voices, and an Ohio spotlight on The Immortal Three who shaped U.S. history.
✝️ Catholic Corner – Sunday Mass readings with lessons for today, plus Bishop Thomas’ reflection on the “narrow gate” of discipleship.

Issue: August 24 – August 31, 2025 Produced by Elliott Shaffer SECTION 1 – COUNCIL AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT City Council Meeting Date: August 19, 2025 Location: Fostoria City Council Chambers Finance Committee The Finance Director presented July 2025 financials: $10.6 million unencumbered bala...

08/18/2025

🌿 The Heron of the Swamp: A Sentinel Through the Ages 🪶Long before towns and farm fields spread across the Tri-County landscape, this region was dominated by the Great Black Swamp — a vast expanse of water and woodland alive with fish, amphibians, beaver, otter, and countless birds.Among them, one figure has never left us: the Great Blue Heron.For thousands of years, the heron has stood at the edges of creeks and marshes, patient and still, waiting for its prey. It was here when the Adena and Hopewell cultures built earthworks along Ohio’s rivers. It was here when the Erie people hunted these waters and when the Wyandot called Big Spring and the swamp their home. Even when the Iroquois Confederacy claimed this land as their personal hunting ground, the heron remained — unchanged in its quiet persistence.Unlike the beaver and otter, which vanished from much of the landscape after the swamp was drained, the heron endured. Its adaptability allowed it to survive beside both ancient mound-builders and the farming settlers who reshaped the land.Today, you’ll find the heron at Springville Marsh State Nature Preserve, in farm ponds, reservoirs, and even roadside ditches — always present, always watching.The Great Blue Heron is more than just a bird. It is a living witness to generations of human history, linking us to the land as it once was. From the Adena to the Wyandot, from swamp to farmland, the heron has stood watch. In its longevity, it reminds us of the resilience required to endure change.

08/17/2025

📣 The Fostorian – Issue #5 is here! 📰✨
Covering August 17 – August 24, 2025

This week’s edition includes:
✅ City Council & Government updates – recovery plan, PFAS case, and alley vacations.
🎉 Community Events – Latino Fest, Meet the Teams Night, Fostoria Coin Club, FCAC Summer Concert Series & more.
🏞️ Local Heritage – Ohio celebrates the new Mohican State Park Visitor Center.
🎨 Arts & Culture – The Ohio Women’s Monument project takes shape.
💻 Technology & Innovation – US government considers stake in Intel’s Ohio chip hub.
🌿 Health & Wellness – Everyday Elevations tips + major changes for Ohio nurses under SB144.
🏛️ State News – Poverty, resource deserts, and new legislation shaping Ohio’s future.
💡 Elevate Section – Words of inspiration from Edison, Owens, Steinem & more.
✝️ Catholic Corner – Reflections with Bishop Daniel E. Thomas.

👉 Read the full issue here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1M-QVCFscBl9Fji1b-g4KfPuLy8eVNw_b3sV9LgKQjWY/edit?usp=drivesdk

📌 Stay informed. Stay connected. Stay Fostorian.

08/15/2025

Good morning, Fostorians! 🌅🚂Thank God it’s Friday! 🙏 A beautiful sunrise over town as a CSX train rolls through, reminding us to keep moving forward into the weekend. Wishing everyone a safe, blessed, and joyful Friday! ✨

08/11/2025

🗞️ The Fostorian — Issue #4 (August 10–16, 2025) is here! 📢
Produced by Elliott Shaffer

From city council chambers to local history, from downtown concerts to statehouse updates — this week’s issue is packed with stories and events shaping Fostoria and our tri-county community.

Highlights in this issue:
✅ Council & Local Government — August 5 meeting recap, PFAS updates, public comments, and new legislation
✅ Community Calendar — Don’t miss the Space Cats Live Summer Concert 🎶 (Aug. 15) plus events across Seneca, Wood, and Hancock counties
✅ Local History — Original Ohio land surveys and what they reveal about our past 🌾
✅ Arts & Culture — Kabir’s astonishing verse and the art of perspective 🎨
✅ Technology — SoftBank’s Lordstown acquisition and what it could mean for Ohio jobs 💻
✅ Health — Ohio vaccination trends and outbreak risks 🩺
✅ State News — $60B Ohio budget brings tax reform, child care expansion, and workforce investments 💼
✅ Faith & Community — Bishop’s Corner reflections & upcoming events ✝️

📍 The Fostorian brings real, positive, in-depth local news — connecting our community with the information that matters most.

📲 Read it here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/13SHASRaNab3GJ6aOXlfiZOomL3qyUUHkJfcNgcRWo2Q/edit?usp=sharing
💬 Tell us — which story stands out to you most this week?

Issue: August 10 – August 16, 2025 Produced by Elliott Shaffer SECTION 1 – COUNCIL AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT Meeting Date: August 5, 2025 Location: Fostoria City Council Chambers Time: 6:00 p.m. – 6:31 p.m. Attendance Present: Brian Lehman – Council President Pro Tem Greg Podak – Council Mem...

08/04/2025

📰 The Fostorian – Issue 3 is here!
From roadwork updates to back-to-school prep, we’re keeping you in the know with what matters most in Fostoria and across the tri-county region.

👷‍♂️ Infrastructure improvements are ramping up
🏫 Schools are preparing for a new year
🌳 The Foster Block is getting a facelift
🎉 Plus: Events, history, education, health, and more!

📍 Whether you're a resident, parent, history buff, or business owner—Issue 3 is packed with updates you can use.

📖 Read it now:
🔗 https://docs.google.com/document/d/18bIl26aM3yQOmgonMPTq_tawxlm8FdLtCKZzkMpJMUM/edit?usp=sharing

👍 Like, comment, and share to support positive, independent local journalism!

THE FOSTORIAN Issue: August 3 – August 10, 2025 Produced by Elliott Shaffer SECTION 1 — COUNCIL & LOCAL GOVERNMENT At the state level, legislators focus on property tax reform and infrastructure funding impacting schools and local roads. Ohio Legislature Tracking SECTION 1: INFRASTRUCTURE, SAF.....

07/30/2025

🆕✨ New Signs, New Spark!

The brand-new signs at City Park and Gray Park really make these green spaces pop! 🌿 Whether you’ve driven by hundreds of times or just visited for the first time, these bold, clean signs catch your eye and proudly remind us where we are.

📍 On one side: Gray Park, rooted in Fostoria’s rich glassmaking legacy, complete with a historical marker.
📍 On the other: City Park, where kids play, families gather, and community comes alive.

It’s amazing how something as simple as a sign can breathe fresh energy into a space. Let us know — have you noticed them too?